Pacific Championship Rugby League: NZ Kiwis vs Toa Samoa Men's Final
The two rivals last faced off three weeks ago, with the New Zealand Kiwis narrowly winning. Toa Samoa presented a cultural challenge at Go Media Stadium but fell short.
Match Details
- Kickoff: 6.05pm Sunday, 9 November
- Venue: Go Media Stadium
Head-to-Head History
Toa Samoa have never defeated the NZ Kiwis in six matches. However, several encounters were close, including their previous meeting where they missed critical scoring chances, leading to a 24-18 loss.
In 2014, the Kiwis narrowly beat Samoa 14-12 at Whangārei, powered by a late try from centre Shaun Kenny-Dowall, eventually helping New Zealand to a Four Nations title.
Recent Matches and Performances
The 2023 Pacific Championships saw the Kiwis dominate Samoa 50-0. Wingers Jamayne Isaako and Ronaldo Mulitalo scored twice each, with Isaako successfully converting seven of the nine tries.
Significance of the Rivalry
Traditionally, Samoa served as preparation opponents for bigger rugby league nations. However, the growing presence of Pacific-born players has intensified this rivalry.
The Samoans announced themselves as genuine global contenders by reaching the 2022 Rugby League World Cup final stages, narrowly beating England 27-26 in the semis before falling 30-10 to Australia in the final.
Earlier in the same tournament, they suffered a heavy 60-6 defeat to England in pool play, showing their rapid progress on the world stage.
Author's Summary
This Pacific Championship final highlights the rising strength and fierce rivalry between Toa Samoa and the NZ Kiwis, as both sides vie for regional rugby league supremacy.